Effectiveness of the "crop trap" model on summer-autumn rice

According to the assessment of the Tanh Linh District Agricultural Technical and Service Center, in the 2023 summer-autumn crop, farmers whose fields are near the “plant trap” model area have less rice damaged by rats than in previous crops. Thanks to that, the cost of pesticides to kill rats is reduced, while not affecting health and protecting the environment...

In recent years, the production situation in localities in the province has shown that pests on crops are on the rise. Among them, the number of rats causing damage to fields is increasing, making farmers' production difficult. In this situation, from 2021 to present, the provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has deployed a number of models of luring and catching rats using the "crop trap" method in Duc Linh and Tanh Linh districts. In particular, in the summer-autumn crop of 2023, the provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (TT & BVTV) continues to coordinate with the Tanh Linh District Agricultural Technical and Service Center and the People's Committee of Dong Kho commune to implement the "crop trap" model to manage rats that are harmful to rice plants.

*Traps for crops grown in summer-autumn rice fields.*

Accordingly, from March to July 2023, traps were set up in the rice field of farmer Truong Thi Hoang, located in a large field of Dong Kho commune. The model was implemented using the ST25 fragrant rice variety with a seed quantity of 20 kg/ ^1,500m2 , sown 20 days earlier than other rice fields in the same area. The trap field is surrounded by a 50 cm high nylon fence to limit rats from climbing and biting the fence inside, on the outside is a small ditch containing water measuring 30 cm wide x 25 cm deep. The number of traps used in the model is 12, each bank has 2 - 4 traps to collect rats. The traps are made from an iron frame, rectangular in shape of 60 cm x 30 cm, surrounded by iron mesh.

Households participating in the model are supported 100% of production costs and equipment according to the proposed process such as ST25 rice seeds, fertilizers, mouse catching tools... and funding to support farmers with land to implement the model together with 10 million VND/crop (funding source from the Provincial Department of Information and Plant Protection). On the other hand, through training, farmers grasp basic techniques on methods of trapping and luring, catching mice with "plant traps" such as how to prepare trap cages, make sowing beds, create water ditches... Over the time of implementing the model, nearly 100 adult mice have been collected.

*Remove plastic bags when the rice is ready to be harvested.*

According to Mr. Nguyen Kim Thanh - Director of the Agricultural Technical and Service Center of Tanh Linh district, during the process of monitoring the model, the number of rats entering the traps this season has decreased compared to previous models in the same summer-autumn crop. However, this year, the number of "drainage rats" is larger than normal rats, weighing from 0.5 - 1kg. This is a pest that destroys rice on a large scale, they dig very large burrows and cause a lot of damage to the embankment system and irrigation canals of the locality.

*Technical staff and householders participating in the model.*

According to Mr. Thanh, for the "plant trap" model to be highly effective, it requires the cooperation of local authorities and field owners in the same field. In farming, applying a variety of measures to prevent pests, especially rats, can achieve the best results. At the same time, it must be done regularly, continuously and deployed at many points to contribute to reducing pests on crops, increasing productivity, product quality, and increasing income for households on the same cultivated area. The District Agricultural Technical and Service Center will continue to transfer to local farmers to replicate the "plant trap" model in the fields. Thereby, helping to enhance community spirit, contributing to increasing economic efficiency, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable agricultural production.

According to the provincial Department of Plant Protection, this summer-autumn crop, the province has planted over 39,300 hectares of rice, mainly in the ripening and harvesting stages. Since the beginning of the year, more than 310 hectares of rice fields in the province have been damaged by rats. The models of luring and catching rats using "crop traps" in the past have captured hundreds of adult rats. If calculated based on the cumulative reproductive habits of a pair of parent rats, the model has contributed to reducing from 1,500 to 3,000 baby rats, grandchildren, great-grandchildren...

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